Ageless And Funny Sitcoms
Soap (1977-1981): So scandalous at the time that ABC received thousands of letters of protest before it even debuted, this soap opera spoof included one of the first openly gay TV characters (Billy Crystal’s Jodie), murder, the Mafia, demonic possession, alien abduction and several (some unresolved) cliffhangers.
Sex and the City (1998-2004): Inspiring countless copycats of sex columnist Carrie’s fab designer lifestyle, ‘SATC’ ultimately owed its success to one of the best female ensembles in tube history, with Sarah Jessica Parker and pals just as adept at physical comedy as they were at dropping those naughty one-liners.
30 Rock (2006-present): We already knew Tina Fey was a brilliant comedy writer, and this ‘Saturday Night Live’ spoof also proves what a master of deadpan Alec Baldwin is. But it takes a true classic to mine with such deftness the humor of Kenneth the Page and wild comedian Tracy Morgan.
Get Smart (1965-1970): Forget the cell phone: Maxwell Smart, aka Agent 86, had a sole phone, his shoe-set rotary dial; it was just one of the gadgets that helped the bumbling spy save the day after nearly ruining it every time. He also relied on help from comely Agent 99 and the patience of The Chief in battling KAOS.
The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978): In the sitcom that introduced laid-back, sarcastic Bob Newhart, he played a mild-mannered shrink who was the perfect foil for his sassy wife, neighbor Howard (whose “Hi Bob!” greeting led to a drinking game) and prickly patient Carlin.
The Honeymooners (1955-1956): Before there was a ‘King of Queens,’ Jackie Gleason ruled Brooklyn as bus driver Ralph, whose feisty, hotter-than-him wife Alice kept the loud mouth in line. Despite his scheming, Ralph was a softie, and became one of TV’s first working class heroes.
The Cosby Show (1984-1992): It was the family we all wanted to be a part of: the Huxtables, led by Cliff and Clair, two professional, in-love parents who ruled with a firm hand and lots of humor, whether buying Theo a Gordon Gartrell shirt, planning the classic anniversary performances for the grandparents or throwing a funeral for a pet fish.
Seinfeld (1990-1998): A show about nothing? Nah, it was about everything in the lives of four self-involved New Yorkers. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, because no one but Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer — and show co-creator Larry David — could have turned minutiae into nine seasons of comedic brilliance.
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